For people experiencing homelessness, there are countless barriers to finding work, stability, or dignity. Many of these barriers come in the form of inadequate access to physical or behavioral healthcare, but one area that often goes overlooked is the need for dental care.
In fact, studies show that over half of adults experiencing homelessness are significantly more likely to have dental issues compared to the general population.
A 2020 study found that 57.4% of participants in a sample of adults experiencing homelessness were missing at least half their teeth. Half — 54.6% — of respondents also reported oral pain in the six months leading up to the study.
In addition to the pain and lack of confidence that comes from tooth loss, without access to dental care, people can also lose the ability to eat solid food, may suffer from pain and chronic disease caused by poor dental health, and others may struggle to find work.
To help bridge the gap in dental care for homeless individuals, Father Joe’s Villages in San Diego, California opened a dental clinic inside its Village Health Center in 1987, where an estimated 4,000 patients received help in 2024 alone, with over 800 accessing dental services.
Dentists at the health center “restore smiles, dignity and self-confidence through dental care, which gives folks the confidence to find employment, housing and self-sufficiency,” a press release from the organization states.
But now, they’ll be able to do even more.
Thanks to a $150,000 grant from the Delta Dental Community Care Foundation, Father Joe’s will be able to offer dental treatment to more low income and homeless individuals who would otherwise not have access to services.
“This grant represents an extraordinary step in our efforts to provide dental care for our most vulnerable communities,” said Dr. Megan Partch, Chief Health Officer at Father Joe’s Villages.
“Because of the support of organizations like Delta Dental, we can provide quality dental care for those who otherwise may not be able to afford it.”
The Delta Dental Community Care Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Delta Dental and its affiliated companies. Since 2011, the foundation has given more than $150 million in funding and support to increase access to dental care and improve oral health education across 15 states.
“The grant couldn’t come at a better time. With homelessness on the rise nationwide, many homeless service providers like Father Joe’s Villages are on the front lines of efforts to provide safe, affordable dental care,” a press release for the organization shared.
A spokesperson for Father Joe’s Villages said that, factoring in the new grant funding, the organization projects that 145 new community members will have access to the dental services, with at least 52 new patients receiving dentures.
This marks a 30% increase from the organization's annual goal of providing 40 people with the life-changing intervention of dentures. All in all, 203 free appointments will be provided to these denture patients to adequately assess, take impressions, and deploy dentures. This represents a 27% increase in annual visits at the dental clinic.
Additionally, the funds will help ensure that, of the approximately 4,000 people seen by the Village Health Center annually, 25% will benefit from at least one dental care visit.
The clinic will provide dental services like teeth cleanings, fillings, crowns, root canals, extractions, and partial or complete dentures, offering both walk-in appointments and same-day care for dental emergencies.
Father Joe’s Villages also provides health care, substance use disorder treatment, job training, community building, and housing for more than 2,500 people each night in San Diego.
For community members, the free services The Village provides really are priceless.
“One of the most remarkable events that we see in creating a beautiful smile for our patients is the production of hope. Hope that things will get better for them, hope that they now have a chance to do something with their life, hope that maybe their life can have meaning,” a dentist at the clinic shared in a statement.
“That’s the true miracle that occurs in the dental clinic.”
For patients who go from believing that dental care is a luxury to accessing the resources they need to thrive, a new smile can be the difference between homelessness and a brand new start.
“I am so grateful for the clinic,” one client shared in a testimonial.
“I don't feel self-conscious anymore, and I am excited to start my own business with a perfect smile.”
Header image courtesy of Father Joe's Villages
